The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-06-23

this deserted old barn by the river.
I'll go in here, and see if the flames
of fancy won't burn up little. Halo!
How's this? Locked upi Uncle Park
hurst never kept this place locked up
in my time"
He gave the paddock a pull; the
rusted iron parted from the crum bling
wood, and the door burst open.
In the same moment some large
body plunged towards him, with
ferocious growl. 1t was a good-sized
brown bear!
Confusion" roared our hero, back
ing involuntarily into a corner, while
he protected himself, as well as, he
could, by holding up the portfolio be-
fore his face.
In an instant, however, light figure
glided past him-a hand was laid upon
the brute's leather collar.
Down, Shag-downw said Greta
Harmon's soft sweet voice in accents
of the utmost composure. Il am sorry
Mr.. Stanley, that my pet should have
frightened you; but l never expected
that anyone would break into his house
like this"
Your petI' gasped Stanley.
1T was his restlessness, l suppose,
that annoyed you in the night ex-
planned Greta. He was fastened to
tree in the woods. He likes cool fresh
air, poor thing, but this morning I
changed him to this lonely place. Mr..
Parkhurst is deaf, you know, and don't
hear things; and wouldn't have Mrs.
Parkhurst know this for the world"
But, cried Stanley, 1.-THE brute is
dangerous"
Not a bit, poor fellowp said calm
Greta. He is thoroughly tanned. He
is performing bear, and found him
wandering through the woods on the
day of the railway wreck. My uncle,
in Germany, used to tame bears for
showmen, and understand all their
ways; so brought him here, and I've
fed him and cared for him ever since,
expecting that his owner would come
to claim him some time. No one has
come, though; and it is more than
likely, am beginning to fear, that his
owner was drowned in some of those
deep pools in the creek, under the tres
tle-WOrk."
..And you are going to keep him?"
asked Herbert Stanley.
What else can do?" asked Greta,
raising the composed blue eyes to
Stanley's face. lone can't turn bears
loose in the woods in place like this.
And the poor thing reminds me of my
youth. oh I'll get along in some fash
ion, only please don't speak of this to
my good friends, the Parkhurstsw
''Aha!' thought Stanley; ''all will be
we'll if we can once establish link of
secrecy between us-this exquisite
blonde and me-"
And at the end of the week, so far
infatuated was he that he asked Mar
garcia Harmon to be his wife.
''She is 80 beautiful he said to HIM
self. II can make anything 1 please
out of her. No duchess could grace
my home more royalty. whatever may
be her present rank.
But to his surprise, Greta dropped
him one of her slow, queenly curtsies,
and declined his offer
Herbert Stanley for a moment could
hardly believe his ears.
''You-you don't like mep" he gasped.
"Oh, very muchw said artless Greta.
''But don't love you; there's where it
is. i could never marry "A man unless
l loved him very, very much.
And the blue eyes went dreamily out
into space.
"Confound it all!' said Stanley to
himself; there's some fellow over in
Germany that she is pining after"
And he had made his sacrifice in
vain.
The next day-thus strangely does
fate weave her web-a tall, broad
shouldered young man alighted from
the train at CasselFs Greek station.
I'm the manager of a Western
show" said he to the station-agent,
''and my best performing bear was
lost here in the accident last spring.
I've only just tracked him to this place.
The attendant was so frightened at the
accident that he skunk away, and we
have just convinced him that he can
neither be hung nor imprisoned for a
thing which was none of his fault.
Perhaps the creature may be dead; but
if he's above ground, / mean to find
him. Come on, Claus, and help me to
identify King Bruinr'
>Claus, a fair-haired shuf1ing Ger
man, followed close behind his master
with guilty air.
docs anyone know anything of q
docile bear loose in this neighborhoOd?"
said the manager, looking cheerily
around.
"Parkhurst's hired gals got one, "
said barefooted boy. who chewed to-
bacco, and was not in the least like
Whittier's ideal. ''Old man Parkhurst
found it chained in the barn last week,
and made jolly row about it. But
they let her keep it."
.'And where does this gentleman
liver" asked the manager.
I'm show YOU" said the barefooted
boy.
King Bruin had not forgotten his
old friends. The meeting between
him and Claus was mutually joyful.
The poor German shed tears of Joy,
and Bruin gave voice to hoarse roar
ing which meant unutterable things as
he put both paws ON Claus's shoulders,
and rubbed his wet muzzle against his
keepers sandy beard. And in the
midst of this, while the manager stood
smiling by, Greta Harmon came run
ming down the hill from the house.
..Who dares to touch my bear?" she
breathlessly demanded.
s'It is my bear, Greta Harmon,
quietly responded the manager. "Dost
thou not know me, Gretchen?"
She stood amazed.
"Karlw-she cried out-''Karl klun.
der! Why, wherever did you come
from? Am l back in Bavaria again
at my uncle's door,"
Il have been in the country for five
years, Greta," said the young man
"All these years l have looked foi
thee. Sweetheart, have found thee
at last"
Here was the sequel to the first vol
ume of blue-eyed Greta's life. Here
was the young fellow from Germany,
whom Stanley had so prophetically
deserted. A respectable young Ger
man, in the receipt OF snug income,
and only too anxious to carry Grets
away.
THAT darling performing bear.
whispered Greta, showering kisses OF
the brute's head. If it had not beer
for my taking care of him.. l never
should have met my Karl again.
THAT hateful shaggy brute" saic
Mrs. Parkhurst. IF it hadn't beer
for him, should have kept Greta witt
me yet"
| .tTIo xro,,an Of Son Eronoisoo or.